The firing was stopped before the slip turned red once again. The fresh oxygen supply turned the pottery back to red. The kiln was then starved of oxygen and filled with carbon monoxide (by using wet fuel), causing the slip to turn black.

Careful control of the firing process allowed Greek potters to oxidise the body of the pot, turning it red, by keeping the kiln well ventilated.

The vase is decorated in the 'red figure' technique in which the areas surrounding the figures are painted in a slip (mixture of clay and water), leaving the red pottery showing through. These formed the nucleus for Hope's own collection of vases, which he displayed at Duchess Street. In 1801 Hope purchased the second collection of ancient vases formed by Sir William Hamilton, formerly the British Ambassador to the Naples court. (1807), illustrating objects he had designed for his London house at Duchess Street. The most important of these publications was Household Furniture and Interior Decoration. The vase was once owned by Thomas Hope (1769-1831), the collector, connoisseur, patron and designer, who published a number of influential books of designs. Revelling satyrs and maenads is a popular subject at this time, and similarly posed dancing figures are common.The krater was an ancient Greek vase with two handles that was used to mix wine and water. The third holds an aryballos by a string in his extended right hand. The one in the center gestures withhis right hand. The first holds a circular object (possibly a aryballos) in his extended right hand. Bell Krater: A, Orestes at the Altar of Apollo at Delphi B, Three standing Men. On the back are three mantled youths, two to the right and the third to the left. She wears a peplos, diadem, earring, necklace, bracelets, and wreath, and holds a ribbon between her hands. On the right another maenad dances right, looking around. His right arm is extended back over his head, and in his left hand he holds a thyrsos. He also wears a fawn skin for a cloak and a wreath.

Next comes a satyr who goes right, looking around. Over her head she holds a thyrsos in her right hand, and in her left is a tympanum. She wears a peplos girded at the waist, bracelets, earring, wreath and possibly a necklace. In front of him a maenad dances right, looking around. On the left a satyr wearing a fawn skin for a cloak and a wreath stands to the right in his right hand he holds up a thyrsos from which an ivy vine hangs. This red-figure bell krater depicts satyrs and maenads revelling on the front.

Bell krater download